EA released their video "Always in the Game" featuring Donovan playing the official 2014 FIFA World Cup video game and then singing "I'm not going to Brazil," a play off the American Outlaws chant "We are going to Brazil."

On Monday, LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez will develop a lasting memory of his very first World Cup match when the U.S. takes on Ghana in their Group G opener.

But what about Gonzalez's first World Cup memory?

That goes back to the 1994 FIFA World Cup when Gonzalez was just a child living outside of Dallas.

"My first World Cup memory as a kid was at the Cotton Bowl, I got a chance to go to a few games as a volunteer," Gonzalez recently told LAGalaxy.com. "When I was there, my mom tells me that I used to mimic Bebeto's celebration."

On Monday, the U.S. National Team will take on Ghana in their opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The match will prove if the third time is the charm for the U.S. who have dropped two straight World Cup matches to the Black Stars.

If the LA Galaxy advance past Arizona United SC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, they'll be heading back to North Carolina.

The NASL's Carolina RailHawks defeated Chivas USA on Saturday after a dramatic penalty kick shootout that saw Carolina advance to the fifth round for the second consecutive year. Zack Schilawski and Ryan Finley traded goals in the first half, but the deadlock could not be reached as the match was decided in the penalties.

During the seven round shootout, Carolina goalkeeper Scott Goodwin made four saves to give Carolina the victory.

LA will look to take on Carolina by winning their U.S. Open Cup match in Arizona on Wednesday at Peoria Sports Complex. If LA win, they'll take on the RailHawks on June 24 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Arena offered his analysis of the tournament stating that a number of the traditional powers will compete for the trophy. In addition to providing his selections for the group stage, the Galaxy boss declared that the host nation Brazil will lift the trophy in July.

In the latest edition of "Skip work. Watch the World Cup," Bruce Arena runs Landon Donovan through an LA Galaxy training session only for the LA manager to call time on the practice in his own unique way.

In just a few hours, the globe’s most important sporting event will be underway.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday when the host nation Brazil will take on European upstarts Croatia at Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians at 1:00 p.m. PT. For a month, the world’s eyes will be focused on Brazil as 32 nations compete for the honor of hoisting the trophy aloft at the final at the iconic Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

Throughout the tournament, we’ll be providing analysis and daily coverage of the tournament from Los Angeles and in Brazil on LAGalaxy.com/WorldCup. I’ll be covering the tournament locally from Southern California while LAGalaxy.com digital’s Chris Thomas will be on location in Brazil.